July 7, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1 
A SUPPLY of strong early runners for layering in pots for 
forcing is out of the question from old plants, the best being 
furnished by young plants that are planted early after rooting in 
the preceding year, and these must not be heavily cropped if they 
are to furnish vigorous runners ; in fact, they are better not cropped, 
yet it is desirable that the runners be only taken from plants that 
have shown fruit. The small early varieties are not worth 
growing in pots, for the first consideration in a forced Straw¬ 
berry is appearance—colour combined with good size and form. 
Earliness, however, is a matter of vital importance in many cases, 
for to be anywhere but first is a great disparagement and loss of 
prestige to the grower who is provided with all necessary con¬ 
veniences for his work. 
As a first early forcing Strawberry Black Prince was at one time 
the most popular, but it is very liable to mildew, and the fruit when 
ripe is so small as to compare unfavourably with La Grosse Sucr6e 
and Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury. These have superseded Black 
Prince, but neither has the colour indicative of perfect ripeness nor 
the mellow flavour which some persons consider essential in the 
earliest Strawberries. John Buskin is likely to take a leading place 
as a first early forced Strawberry. It may be described as an 
improved Black Prince with larger fruit, well grown specimens 
averaging half an ounce each. La Grosse Suertie is bigger and 
better than any Strawberry I have grown as a first early, averaging 
about three-quarters of an ounce per fruit, and its colour is bright 
and glossy. Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury produces more fruit, 
which is, as a rule, smaller. I have had “ king ” fruits weighing 
1| oz., but good average early forced fruits of this variety are fine 
at half an ounce each. Auguste Nicaise has bold foliage, also large 
and handsome fruit, specimens weighing 2* ozs., and the flavour 
is decidedly rich and vinous. The colour is red, but more 
lively than Noble and Due de Malakoff. The latter I at one time 
forced largely, and grew fruits over 2 ozs. in weight ; but though 
good in flavour it was not a favourite on the dessert table. Noble 
is of the same race as Due de Malakoff, having immense fruit. 
It is a great cropper, and useful for second early forcing, but 
must not be brought forward in too high a temperature. Similar 
remarks apply to Auguste Nicaise. 
For home use and mellow rich flavour no Strawberry surpasses 
Sir Harry as a second early forcing variety. It is much con¬ 
founded with Keens’ Seedling, but the fruit is larger, more even 
in size, has a fine dark glossy colour and rich flavour. President 
(Bothwell Bank) possesses a fine constitution, has large handsome 
fruit, and is excellent as a second early or midseason forcing 
variety. Its colour, however, is too light to find favour in the 
markets, at least salesmen return less money for it than for 
darker and glossier fruit. Its agreeable flavour, large size, and hand¬ 
some appearance are much esteemed at dessert. Fine specimens 
weigh over 2 ozs., and such are very liable to “ spot ”—a disease 
peculiar to the richest flavoured Strawberries. Sir Joseph Paxton 
is a fine midseason and late forcing Strawberry, and is then 
generally free from mildew, but when earlier forced the plants 
and fruit mildew to a serious extent. The fruit is large, heavy 
(specimens reach 2j ozs.), bright darkish red, with a rich glossy 
appearance, and a whitish somewhat mealy bloom. The quality 
is good and the fruit travels well. Sir Charles Napier forces 
No. 628. — Vol. XXV., Third Series. 
well for a middle crop, is handsome, large, bright red, rather 
scarlet, and crops freely. Perhaps there is no finer looking 
Strawberry than this ; its flavour is sub-acid, yet refreshing to 
many palates. 
For late forcing none surpasses British Queen. It is never 
grown to such perfection as under glass, the large, handsome, 
light coloured, exquisitely flavoured, thoroughly ripe fruit excelling 
all other Strawberries ; but it is not largely grown for market, 
as the prices are not remunerative. Dr. Hogg is difficult to 
distinguish from British Queen when they are grown together 
under glass. It has a better constitution, the plants are not so 
liable to become “ blind,” the fruit is large, handsome, though 
light coloured, deliciously sweet and delightfully piquant. Many 
fine baskets of Sir Joseph Paxton are named Dr. Hogg in 
fruiterers’ windows. Cockscomb is large—in the “king” fruits 
enormous — and brighter in colour than British Queen and 
Dr. Hogg. It i3 evidently of the same race, and is richly 
flavoured. Those three are the best late forcing Strawberries 
to grow where nothing short of the highest quality with noble 
appearance will satisfy. Waterloo has the rich glossy crimson 
colour which is esteemed in the markets, and its large cocks¬ 
comb-shaped fruits contrast effectively with British Queen for 
home desserts. Those are the varieties of Strawberries I have 
found most pleasant to the eyes and best satisfying to all tastes 
when forced. 
The best plants to supply the largest fruit in the fullest crop 
are secured by layering the first runners either into small pots,, 
and' when they are rooted well detaching and shifting into the 
fruiting pots ; or layering at once into the pots the plants are to 
be fruited in. Both plans are good ; but I prefer the first on the 
score of economy in labour, especially in transport, as it is much 
easier to move 3-inch than 6-inch pots filled with soil. The 3-inch 
pots should be placed in a continuous line between every other 
two rows of plants, filling them to within half an inch of the 
rim with rather rough turfy loam rammed hard, half plunging 
the pots, and making a slight indentation in the centre of each 
for the plantlet. Secure it with a galvanised wire hairpin-like 
peg, and suppress all further runner growth. The pots must be 
kept properly watered to insure the speedy emission of roots by the 
runners, and as soon as the pots are filled with roots, and before 
they become much matted around the sides, detach the runners 
from the parents, and place the young plants in a shady place for a 
few days preparatory to shifting them into the fruiting pots. These 
should be 5-inch for early forcing, 6 inches for succession, while 
7-inch may be employed for plants that may not be required for 
starting before February or March for affording large crops of the 
largest fruits in due season. 
The fruiting pots must be clean, have a large crock in each, 
about three or four of lesser size above them, and over these some 
finer pieces so as to make about an inch in depth, or a little more. 
Turfy loam, rather strong, should form the staple of the compost, 
being only laid up sufficiently long to destroy the herbage. Tear 
or chop it up and add a quart each of steamed bonemeal and 
wood ashes to every bushel of loam, with about a pint of soot, 
thoroughly incorporating them. The compost should be mode¬ 
rately dry when used, for if too wet it will shrink after use and 
leave the sides of the pot ; the rooting medium is not good, nor 
can water be well supplied. Place the rougher portions of the 
compost at the bottom and then pot firmly. The base of the 
crown should be about half an inch below the rim of the pot. 
Stand the pots on a hard base, impervious to or disliked by worms, 
in an open sunny situation, with sufficient space between the plants 
to allow for the full exposure of the foliage. Avoid positions 
exposed to winds, as these injure the leaves by rubbing against 
the pots. Supply water as required, and sprinkle the foliage daily 
fora few days after potting. With the roots working freely in 
the fresh soil copious supplies of water will be needed, and the 
No. 2284.— Vol. LXXXYII., Old Series. 
